The Shoulders Beneath My Feet

Black August is a month-long commemoration of freedom fighters who have died or been imprisoned for fighting for liberation. Black August is thus also an invitation for us to join the revolutionary cause and commit to the fight for freedom for Black and Afro-Indigenous people. This year, our theme is Fortifying the Revolutionary Spirit. 

Join us for a month-long lineup of gatherings, political education, arms training, rituals for revolution practice, and a pilgrimage to Richmond as we honor our revolutionary ancestors and elders, and answer their call to join the movement for liberation. We 10/10 recommend attending as many of the gatherings and events as you can. 

Registration for all Events HERE: Black August Event Registration

Programs and Gatherings: 

Weekly Wednesday Political Education with MXGM and PACA

8/5 7pm Youth Inherit the Revolution: A conversation with Jamal Joseph

8/12 7pm Takin’ To the Streets: The Long Tradition of Revolutionary Youth Resistance

8/19 7pm Long Live the Man Child: Jonathan Jackson and the Revolutionary Potential of Black Youth 

In Person Location: Black Workers and Wellness Center

Virtual Location: please register at this link. 

Cost: free, dinner included 

8/6 6pm Herb and Temple x Harriet’s Wildest Dreams Political Education

“The Chocolate City and the Black Radical Tradition” a virtual political education session, grounding the Black Radical Tradition in local DC Movement History

Location: Virtual Register Here

Cost: Free

8/8 1pm-5pm 

BLACK LIVES MATTER DC PRESENTS: BLACK AUGUST LIBERATION DAY

“We Are Our Own Liberators.”

Inspired by Jonathan Jackson

Location: Anacostia Park (Field 7) 

Join Black Lives Matter DC on Saturday, August 8, from 12:00–5:00 PM at Anacostia 

Together, we’ll honor the revolutionary legacy of Black youth in D.C., from Freedom Schools and Rebels with a Cause to today’s young organizers, while creating a joyful space for our entire community to learn, connect, and celebrate. Enjoy free food, a live DJ, a large children’s activity center, face painting, free haircuts, a mutual aid station, backpack give-a-way, youth and community organizations, political education circles, raffles, and more as we celebrate Black joy and the Black August principles of Study, Train, Fast, and Fight.

8/15-8/16 Camping for Survival! 

Join us for an overnight camping and skillbuilding experience to hone in our nature survival skills in community. We will learn and practice foraging, hunting, tent pitching, fire starting, first aid, go-bags, and more from trusted survivalists and emergency preparedness practitioners. Food and supplies included, but bring a tent (let us know if you can’t) 

Location: Patuxent River Park Pavillion and Campground 

1600 Croom Airport Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Arrival Time:

Departure Time: 

Cost: $35 for Herb and Temple members, $45 for non-members 

8/17: Combat Training for the Revolution 

In commemoration of Black August, we believe in the power of discipline and our right to mindful self defense in the struggle for liberation. On this day we will learn the system and technique of the martial art, Jiu-Jitsu. This is a 2.5 hour training to first understand the purpose of the art form and then to practice combat. 

Location: Highstyle Jiu Jitsu

907 N St NW Unit C

Washington, DC 2001

Cost: $15 for Herb and Temple members, $20 for nonmembers

8/22 7:30am Black August Pilgrimage to Richmond

A Black or Afro-Indigenous space. Inheriting and continuing this tradition started by the Black August Planning Organization, we will take a pilgrimage to Richmond to visit the site of the first rebellion of enslaved Africans in America. There, we will honor our ancestors, learn their stories, and to anchor our current activism with the work of those whose shoulders we build upon. 

Note: The Annual Pilgrimage is an all day event, from DC to Richmond, where we learn history of Black revolutionary movement , walk the trails our enslaved ancestors walked on, take in the arts, visit the sites of the first Black liberation rebellions in the US. This is a full day trip.

Full Description HERE: 8th Black August Pilgrimage

Participants can either drive their own vehicles down caravan style, or register to travel with the group in an Herb and Temple provided passenger van for an additional fee. If you register to travel with the group, you must meet at the Big Chair on MLK by 7am to depart at 7:30am. If you are meeting us there, please plan to arrive at the location at 9:30am. It is a 2 hour drive from SE DC and in order for things to run smoothly, we want our full party to start the tour on time. 

Registrants will receive follow-up info with itinerary and carpooling options 

Cost: $45 registration fee for adults, $40 for members, $15 registration fee for children 

Location: Sent upon registration and payment 

8/23 10am The People’s Practice: Arms Training and Gun Licensing 

A partially sponsored trip to the gun range to learn self-defense methods, including arms training. This event includes access to gun training, instruction, and ammunition to equip our community with the confidence and skillset needed for our collective safety and defense. Educators and arms trainers will offer a collaborative practice and study space, connecting freedom fighting, self-defense, arms rights, resistance, and liberation. 

Participants can opt in to taking a condensed class for MD or DC gun licenses and permits

Children are welcomed to attend

Cost: $65 training and licensing for non-members, $50 for members registration fee for adults, free for children

Location: Sent upon registration and payment 

8/28: 2-7 pm Black August Fish Fry, with Dreaming Out Loud. no cost for registration

Location: Marion Barry Avenue Market 

1303 Marion Barry Ave SE, Washington DC 20020

8/29 and 8/30: Rituals for Revolution: Two-Part Teach in and Ceremony 

A workshop/teach-in about the role of ritual in Black resistance and revolutions, followed by a closed-ceremony where we will activate ritual on behalf of our current revolution for Black liberation donation suggested for materials but not required. $15 for the workshop and dinner, no cost for the ceremony. 

8/29 6pm Dinner and Teach-in 6pm

8/30 6:30pm closed ritual (closed to participants in the teach in), gather at 6:30 pm/ritual at sundown 

Location: 1611 U St SE Washington DC 20020 

This entry was posted on August 7, 2026 at 11:05 am and is filed under Black August 2026. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.